Brian Stefan never imagined his life would lead to the world of suicide prevention. “I never thought I’d be working in mental health,” he shared. Once an intelligence officer with the Department of Defense, he took a bold step – trading classified assignments for life-affirming conversations.
It began in 2014 when Brian heard about a volunteer opportunity at the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center. He had been searching for something that felt meaningful. “I wanted to put good into the world,” he explained. Sundays became sacred to him. From 12:30 to 8:30, he spent his time at the Suicide Prevention Center (SPC), deeply focused on helping people in crisis. Each interaction became a lesson in humanity. “As counselors, we’re the students. The callers teach us about their lives, and we listen so intently that they feel seen.”
Brian’s dedication grew. His supervisor at SPC strongly encouraged him to apply for a Shift Supervisor position, where he could take on a leadership role in supporting counselors who assist callers. Working at Didi Hirsch lead him to pursuing graduate school at UCLA, where he earned his MSW in 2019. His focus on grief and traumatic loss deepened his resolve.
Brian Stefan, LCSW
“I owe everything to Didi Hirsch and the Suicide Prevention Center because had I not had that experience, there’s no way I would have gone to graduate school. If I can talk about suicide, I can talk about almost anything. Didi Hirsch gave me something that is invaluable.”
Now a Shift Supervisor, Brian supports his team while they support callers. “When people are saying they’re having thoughts of suicide, we say things like I believe you. That’s the best thing of all–people feel seen. It’s not trying to help people feel better. It’s helping people feel.”
Yet, the work comes with its own grief. The suicide of a colleague in the field of mental health hit him hard. “It’s a reminder to take care of myself. You’re not broken for having thoughts of suicide. You’re human.”
Building on the foundation of his work at SPC, Brian founded the California Grief Center to provide grief and traumatic loss support to individuals and groups. The lessons he learned at Didi Hirsch—that support is the most important thing during difficult times, and that non-judgment, compassion, and collaborative brainstorming are essential when times are tough—became the bedrock of his approach. “Without my experience at SPC, I wouldn’t have been able to create this space for healing. It taught me that simply being present with people and helping them feel seen can be transformative.”
Between working at SPC, the California Grief Center, and teaching at Cal State LA, Brian continues to honor his mission of supporting people in their healing journeys, turning personal loss into a source of hope and connection for others.
“I’ve found where I belong, and it’s been great ever since.”
